Netflix 'House of Cards' Season 5 Confirmed for 2017, Without Showrunner Creator Beau Willimon

Even before Kevin Spacey's Frank Underwood comes back to the White House in early March with season 4 of House of Cards, Netflix has such confidence that they've already confirmed an order for 2017's season 5. However, even though the series about cunning American politics will be coming back to stream everywhere, one key person will be missing: showrunner and creator Beau Willimon.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streaming giant turned production company has green lit the fifth season of the popular political drama. The show's fourth season won't come out until March 4, but it'll have to pick up from lackluster reviews saying it was weak at best and didn't match up to its first two seasons.

Still, it'll have to do without the man behind the project, as Willimon's leaving for the fifth season, though seemingly in the best of terms.

"I'm grateful to Netflix and MRC, my fellow executive producers, our two incandescent stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, our talented writers, as well as the incredible cast and crew with whom I've had the privilege to work," Willimon said in a recent statement, through Engadget. "After five years and four seasons, it's time for me to move on to new endeavors, but I'm supremely proud of what we've built together, wish the show much continued success, and leave it in the hands of a very capable team."

It's being reported that Willimon is moving on to the stage and currently writing an original play. It's still unclear who will be replacing him on the job.

Netflix has been having trouble with showrunners in the past few months. Besides Willimon walking away from HoC, Narcos is currently on its third showrunner even though it's only aired one season, and the upcoming adaptation of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is currently searching for its second showrunner.